Elements of LearningElements of Learning

Student

Content

Teaching

Elements of LearningElements of Learning

These elements These elements are always are always present.present.

An overall An overall balance is best.balance is best.

Juggling the Juggling the elements is part elements is part of the art of of the art of teaching.teaching.

Student

Content

Teaching

Warning!Warning!

Student

Conte

nt

Teaching

Don’t let the Don’t let the lesson become lesson become unbalanced.unbalanced.

Watch out for Watch out for the pitfalls ...the pitfalls ...

Teaching DominatedTeaching DominatedBeware:Beware: The Spellbinding InstructorThe Spellbinding Instructor

Too teacher Too teacher centered.centered.

Students enjoy the Students enjoy the teacher but may teacher but may not remember not remember what is taught. what is taught.

The content may The content may be overpowered be overpowered and the student and the student unconnected.unconnected. TT

S

C

Content DominatedContent Dominated““Cover the Lesson, No Matter What!”Cover the Lesson, No Matter What!”

Emphasis on Emphasis on getting through the getting through the lesson at all costs.lesson at all costs.

Doesn’t matter Doesn’t matter whether students whether students are learning.are learning.

Disconnect Disconnect between content, between content, students, and students, and teacher.teacher.CC

T

S

Student DominatedStudent DominatedPooling IgnorancePooling Ignorance

Too student Too student centered.centered.

Class is not on Class is not on topic – easily topic – easily distracted.distracted.

Everyone gets Everyone gets along, but nothing along, but nothing is learned.is learned. SS

C

T

Think it Over ...Think it Over ...

Do you recognize Do you recognize any imbalances any imbalances in your own in your own teaching style?teaching style?

Can you think of Can you think of some times some times when you’ve when you’ve observed one or observed one or more elements more elements out of balance?out of balance?

Overcoming Teacher Domination Overcoming Teacher Domination

Use a lesson plan and Use a lesson plan and stick to it. stick to it.

Select activities where Select activities where the students explore the students explore content with minimal content with minimal teacher interaction.teacher interaction.

Make the content Make the content interesting. Keep interesting. Keep personal anecdotes to personal anecdotes to a minimum.a minimum.

What other ideas do What other ideas do you have?you have?

TT

Overcoming Runaway ContentOvercoming Runaway Content Build flexibility into the Build flexibility into the

lesson plan and schedule.lesson plan and schedule. Be sensitive to whether Be sensitive to whether

students are “getting it.” students are “getting it.” Are they paying attention? Are they paying attention? Are they engaged? Are they engaged? Interested?Interested?

Check in with students Check in with students during presentation to see during presentation to see if they are grasping the if they are grasping the content.content.

Consider informal “mid-Consider informal “mid-lesson assessments.”lesson assessments.”

Other thoughts?Other thoughts?

CC

Avoiding the Student StampedeAvoiding the Student Stampede Be consistent about Be consistent about

classroom expectations: classroom expectations: start/stop times, when it’s start/stop times, when it’s ok to speak, doing ok to speak, doing exercises, etc.exercises, etc.

Be firm about staying on Be firm about staying on task and on subject.task and on subject.

Keep a “parking lot” for Keep a “parking lot” for student questions and student questions and issues that are irrelevant to issues that are irrelevant to the lesson but need the lesson but need following up later.following up later.

What else might help?What else might help?SS

Questions? Discussion?Questions? Discussion?

Student

Content

Teaching